VHZ for diagnosis and treatment of cancer

Abstract

We provide VHZ for use in a method of treatment, prophylaxis or alleviation of a cancer, such as breast cancer, in an individual. We provide an anti-VHZ agent for the treatment, prophylaxis or alleviation of cancer. We further provide a kit for detecting breast cancer in an individual or susceptibility of the individual to breast cancer comprising means for detection of VHZ expression in the individual or a sample taken from him or her as well as a method of detecting a cancer cell, the method comprising detecting modulation of expression, amount or activity of VHZ in the cell.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of treatment, or alleviation of invasive or metastatic cancer that overexpresses VHZ (VH-1 like member Z) in an individual, the method comprising detecting overexpression of VHZ in a cell of the individual, and administering an anti-VHZ antibody to the individual if the expression of VHZ is increased relative to a reference level, wherein VHZ is a polypeptide having at least 90% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 2, wherein the anti-VHZ antibody is capable of binding to VHZ of SEQ ID NO: 2 and wherein the invasive or metastatic cancer cell becomes non-invasive or non-metastatic as a result. 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  wherein the cancer is breast cancer. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2  wherein the breast cancer is Invasive Ductal Carcinoma. 
     
     
       4. A method of treatment, or alleviation of an invasive or metastatic cancer in which VHZ is overexpressed in a subject, the method comprising administering an anti-VHZ antibody to the subject thereby inhibiting the formation of VHZ expressing tumor, wherein VHZ is a polypeptide having at least 90% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 2, wherein the anti-VHZ antibody is capable of binding to VHZ of SEQ ID NO: 2 and wherein the invasive or metastatic cancer cell becomes non-invasive or non-metastatic as a result. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4  wherein the activity of VHZ is downregulated in the cancer cells following administration of the anti-VHZ antibody. 
     
     
       6. A method of treating an invasive or metastatic cancer that overexpresses VHZ in a patient, the method comprising the steps of: (a) detecting increased VHZ expression in a cancer cell; and (b) reducing the level of VHZ in the cancer cell by administering an anti-VHZ antibody to the patient, wherein VHZ is a polypeptide having at least 90% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 2, wherein the anti-VHZ antibody is capable of binding to VHZ of SEQ ID NO: 2 and wherein the invasive or metastatic cancer cell becomes non-invasive or non-metastatic as a result. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6  wherein said reducing causes said cancer cell to become non-cancerous, non-invasive or non-metastatic.